Metal strip or sheet feeding means



May 27, 1952 J. slMPsoN METAL STRIP OR SHEET FEEDING MEANS 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed March 5, 1946 mw om, mm m.

I N V EN TOR. JUS 77N S/MPSON May 27, 1952 J. SIMPSON METAL STRIP OR SHEET FEEDING MEANS Filed March 5, 1946 sHEE TS--SHEET 2 Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT `QFFICIE'.

METAL STRIP ORI-SHEET FEEDIN G S llustn Simpson, Elmhurst, Ill., assigner to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N, Y., a corporation of New York Application March 5, 1946, Serial No. v652,139 13 onims. (ci. 271-25) The invention relates generally to web or sheet feeding means and primarily seeks to provide novel means for intermittently feeding metal strip or sheets to a work station whereat work is to be performed thereon, as by punch and die equipments, shear cutters or the like.

It is well known that when metal strip or sheets are to be fed to a work station whereat work is to be performed, such as the punch cutting of can end blanks or the shear cutting of can body blanks or the sheets from which body blanks or end blanks are to be formed, the feeding of said strip or sheets must be positive and accurate.

It is also well known that in the feeding of strip to work stations whereat punch and die equipments or scroll cutting shears constitute the strip working devices, provision must be made for permitting a limited amount of lateral weaving or creeping of the strip in advance of the work station, and also for preventing any lateral freedom for movement of the strip at said work station. The present invention seeks to provide a novel means for intermittently feeding metal strip or sheets positively and accurately, and in a manner for permitting a limited amount of weaving or lateral creeping of the strip in advance of, but not at, the Work station.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel feeding apparatus of the character stated in which the feeding devices include cooperating gripper devices which grip the strip or sheets therebetween and positively move said strip or sheets therewith, certain of said gripper devices comprising magnet means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feeding apparatus of the character stated in which the feeding devices include gripper members supported on idling carriers at one face of the strip or sheet in position for moving along with the strip or sheet during movement thereof, magnet members disposed at the opposite face of the strip or sheet, and means for imparting fourmotion movement to the magnet means to cause them to rst engage the strip or sheet and attract certain of the gripper members in strip or sheet gripping cooperation therewith, then move in the direction in which the strip or sheet is to be fed to impart a positive step feed movement thereto, then away from the strip or sheet to release the grip thereon, then back to the starting point in position for starting another feed cycle.

Another object of the invention isto provide a novel feeding apparatus of the character stated in which the gripper members are in the form of tool steel channel members disposed transversely on idling chain carriers and having non-metallic, yieldable gripper surfaces projecting slightly from their channels for non-marring contact with the strip or sheet. I

Another object of the invention is to'provide a novel feeding apparatus of the character stated in which the four-motion feed imparting means comprises a slide guide, a slide slidable in the guide and carrying Ythe magnet members, means for moving the guide to alternately present the magnet members-to the strip or sheet for a feed* ing interval and then move them away, and means for sliding the slide in one direction while the magnet members are in contact with the strip or sheet and -in the opposite direction when the magnet members are moved away-from said strip or sheet. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feeding apparatus of the character stated in which the slide is limited in its strip or sheet feeding and return movements by xed, yadjustably mounted stops, and said movements are imparted by an Yadjustable stroke movement imparting means including a cushioned connector link permitting an amount of. overtravel of the movement imparting means after contact wit each stop. V

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feedingapparatus of the character stated in which there-is included a gripper means effective to grip thestrip or sheet and prevent movement thereof when the magnet members are out of contact with said strip or sheet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel feeding apparatus of the character stated in which means is provided for accurately gaging the strip edges immediately in advance of the work station, and in which means also is. provided for floatably mounting the gripper members and the magnet members so as to permit a limited amount of weaving or side creeping of the strip before it reaches said gaging means.

With the above and lother objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section illustrating the parts shown in Figure l1, the slide and the magnet members carried thereby being shown in end elevation.

respectively, but it is to be understood that thev improved metal strip or sheetffeeding' means4 herein disclosed may be employed in feeding metal strip material or sheets t'o1other metal1 working devices, such as straightcutting orV scroll shears or the like. It is well known that in feeding metal strip according to. conventional practices, there is a certain amount ofA weaving or lateral creeping of the strip, and in order' to' accurately gage the strip and prevent any mismanner clearly illustrated in` Figure 2. In each laterallyI aligned pair -of' bearings 2, an idler cross shaft Ill-A is rotatably mounted in antifriction bearings I5. It will be'apparent by referenceto Figure 2 that the bearings l2, I5 also permit' the shafts Ill-to float longitudinally, and

the endwise movement of the shafts may be limited by end caps IB suitably secured to the bearings"y I2. Each shaft I4 has a pair of sprockets IT secured thereon, and a compression spring I8v is coiled about each shaft end between the' sprocket-at the particular4 end' thereof and the adjacent bearing I2, abutment washers I9 being mountedon the shafts for engagingithe endsoisaidzsprings in the manner clearly illustrated in` Figure 2. It will be obvious that the l springs' I8 yieldably retain the shafts I4k in centered relation andv against endwisel movement in the bearings I2, I5;

A chain 20 passes over each longitudinally aligned'v pair of sprockets Il, and tool steel channel'members 2| are secured as at 22 across the chains in equidistantly spaced relation. It will be apparent by reference to Figure l that each channel member 2I has an insert 23 of rubber or equivalent yieldable material. inserted therein,

and. the inserts are so proportioned that each thereof projects slightly beyond the channel in which it is mounted as at 24. The shafts I4 are so mounted and the sprockets II thereon and the cooperating chains 20 are so proportioned thatV the lower flights of the chains pass in close parallel-.relation over thel brass rails 6 so kthe channels 2l, areV slightly spaced above the. strip 5. andthe channel inserts 23 will .lightly engage Yinnon-marring contact with the top surface of the metalA strip 5 when said strip is not in motion.

Each frame piece II.isY provided with two depending bearings 25, and in ,each pair of axially aligned .bearings 25. is mounted a` transversely disposed rock shaft'Z.. One ofthe rockV shafts hasaixed rtheretotvvo opstanding crank arms 2T, andthe other shaft 26' has aixed thereto, two opstandingY crank arms 28. One of th-'e crank members 28 also includes a depending arm extension 29 which is equipped at its lower end with a roller Se. The roller engages ina groove 3l formed in a rotary cam 32 secured upon a shaft 33 to which rotation is imparted in any approved manner (not shown).

Longitudinally aligned pairs of the crank arms 2l and 28 are connected at their upper ends by links 36, and each arm 2 and 28 also includes a horizontally extended crank. arm. 35i Each of the crank arms 35 is pivotally'connected with an ear 35 depending from a slide guide member 37 having a slideway 38 therein for slidably supportingf'the.-slidenneinber 35i. The slide guide member is equipped with a longitudinal groove Vi0 for providing freedom of movement for the driving-jlu`g141iwhicli depends from the slide mem-e ber 3S. It Wiilbe apparent that as the lower end ofjthe. arnrfZitV is oscillated by engagement of the rolleri in the rotating cam groove 3 I, the upper ends ofthe crank arms 2 and 28 will be oscillated and the free ends of the crank arms 35 will be moved upwardly andi. downwardly tov move the sliderguide member' 311 toward and from the undersurf'aee of the strip 5 supported-ontt'he brass rails 6.

A plurality of longitudinally extending; parallel spaced permanent,` magnets' ft2, are; mounted on and movable W-ithnthe slide:l 39;l Each end of each magnet member d2 is; stepped `as at d3; and a U'shaped keeperbartil overlieseach steppedlend and is secured' as at 65-tortheiunderlyinggslidef 39 so as to securely retain the magnet: members; on the slide. The'barsili' do not. tightly: clampv the magnet members-against the slide but leave-them free to partakefot aA limited amount ofl lateral movement. It will beapparent by reference to Figure 3` that each magnet: member securingff'bar lillv lia-san extension 5 along' each side ottimalespective magnet member; and each4 saidteirtef'zision is socketed toi receive a compression spring' 4l' which extends fromitsnreceiving socketv and engages the adjacent face ofi the magnet member. The bar extensions te? are' spacedI slightll7 from the sides of the-magneti members. as ali-'48 thereby to permitr a limited'- lateral iloating of thev magnet members;

The cam'32 (or asecond cam.) isl provided with an actuator groove 69* in which an. actuator roller '56. projects from. a lever arm 5I' which is swingable abouti a iixed pivot: 52'.' The lever 5I is providedwith alongitudinal slot. 53at its free end, and a fulcrumblock. may be adjusted along said slot by manipulationof the. adjuster screw 55; A thrust link member'ihas a head 5l adjustably mountedy thereongvand: said. head is pivotally secured as at- 58 to the fulcrum block 5d. The link member 55 also includes a cylindrical enlargement 59; forming a slide chamber Gil wherein a plunger head Sli is longitudinally slidable. The plungerhead 6I is formed on a thrust link member 62 also having a head adjustably mounted thereon and pivotally secured as atE to the lower end. of the slide lug' 6I- Anabutment end' 65 is threadably mounted' in the end of theicylindrical' link enlargement 59, and compression springs 68' are coiled about the link memn ber 62 between the respective ends of the plunger head 5I and the respective ends of the slide chamber 6i).

It will be apparent by reference to Figure l that. as the lever arm 5I is oscillated the thrust link structure 51, 56, 59, 62, 63 will be moved back and forth to4 impartl-reciprocation to the slide 39 along the guideway 38 in the slide guide member 3l. The lug 4I Vdepending from the'slide 39 moves back and forth between two fixed stops 67 which are adjustably mounted as at 68 in cross bars 69 secured in any approved manner to the longitudinally extended frame piece I The cam grooves 3| and 4| are so timed that each time the crank arms 35 are lifted to place the magnet members 42 against the undersurface of the metal strip 5 so as to attract the overlying group of tool steel channel members 2| and hrmly grip the strip l5 between said magnet members and channel insert members 23, thrust movement will be imparted to the thrust link structure to impart feed movement to the slide 39. After the feed movement determined by the spaced relation of the stops 6'! has been imparted to the strip 5, the arms 35 will be lowered to move the magnet members downwardly away from the undersurface of the strip 5 so as to no longer attract the channel members 2| and thereby release the feed grip on the strip. Thereafter, the thrust link structure will be drawn back to the initial position and the parts will be ready to commence another feed cycle. During the forward or feed movement of the slide 39, the chains 2li move idly, and the magnet members d2, the -channel members 2|, the chains 2B, the sprockets |'l and the shafts I4 are free to float laterally a limited amount sucient to take care of any slight weaving or creeping of the strip 5.

It will be apparent that the feed stroke can be varied by changing of the position of the fulcrum block 54 and the spacing of the stops 61, and by reason of the provision of the abutment head SI and the compression springs 66, a limited amount of overtravel of the thrust link structure may be permitted after the slide lug 4| engages a stop in each direction of travel of the slide.

Gripper means 10 is provided and this gripping means is lifted and lowered in timed relation to the operation of the previously described feeding devices by any approved means (not shown) so that said gripping means 'l will engage and securely hold the strip 5 at all times when said strip is not being moved by the magnet members 42 and the channel members 2|.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In apparatus of the character described, a work station, opposing metal strip gripper devices movable for intermittently feeding strip to said station, means disposed adjacent to and in advance of the work station for accurately guiding strip to said station, and means oatably mounting the gripper devices in a manner providing limited freedom for lateral movement of said gripper devices and permitting a limited amount. of weaving or lateral creeping of the gripped strip in advance of said guiding means.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a work station, opposing metal strip gripper devices, means for moving said devices so that they will come together andmove together intermittently for intermittently feeding strip to said station, means disposed adjacent to and in advance of the work station for accurately guiding strip to said station, and means iloatably mounting the gripper devices in a manner providing limited freedom for lateral movement of said gripper devices and permitting a limited amount of weaving or lateral creeping of the gripped strip in advance of said guiding means, said gripper devices including magnet means opposed to one face of the strip and magnet means attractable gripper members mounted on idling carriers and opposed to the opposite face of the strip.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a work station, opposing metal strip gripper devices, means for moving said devices so that they will come together and move together intermittently for intermittently feeding strip to said station, means disposed adjacent to and in advance of the work station for accurately guiding strip to said station, and means floatably mounting the gripper devices in a manner providing limited freedom for lateral movement yof said gripper devices and permitting a limited amount of weaving or lateral creeping of the gripped strip in advance of said guiding means, said gripper devices including magnet means opposed to one face of the strip and magnet means attractable gripper members mounted on idling carriers and opposed to the opposite face of the strip, and said moving'means including devices for imparting four-motion movement to the magnet means for rst moving the same against the strip, then along the direction of feed, then away from the strip, and then back to the starting po-v sition preparatory to commencement of another feed cycle.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a feedway over which metal strip or sheets are to be fed, permanent magnet means opposed to one face of the strip or sheets, a slide carrying said magnet means, a carrier having a longitudinal grcoveway in which the slide is slidable, means for reciprocating the slide in the grooveway, and means for moving the carrier toward and from the feedway in. time with the reciprocation of the slide for moving the magnet means into contact with a strip or sheet on the feedway, then along said feedway with the strip or sheet attracted thereto, then away from said strip or sheet to break said attraction, and then back to the starting point preparatory to commencement of another feed cycle.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a feedway over which metal strip is to` be fed, magnet means opposed to one face of the strip, means for moving the magnet means into contact with a strip on the feedway, then along said feedway with the strip attracted thereto, then away from said strip to break said attraction, and then back to the starting point preparatory tol commencement of another feed cycle, and means fioatably mounting said magnet means so as to permit a limitedl amount of vweaving or lateral creeping of the strip as it is being fed.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a

j feedway over which metal strip is to be fed, magnet means opposed to one face of the strip, means for moving the magnet means into contact with a strip on the feedway, then along said feedway with the strip attracted thereto, then away from said strip to break said attraction, and then back to the starting point preparatory to commencement of another feed cycle, magnet means attractable gripper members closely opposing the opposite face of the strip in position for being attracted by the magnet means into tight gripping contact with said strip whenever the magnet means is in contact with the strip, idling carriers for said gripper memberspermitting free move-4 ment thereof with the gripped strip, means iioat ably mounting' said magnet means and means 7. i'ltiatablyy mounting.: saidv gripperl memberscso as tot permit? a; limited.v amount: ofzweaving. orv lateralcreeping oefthastr-ipias it is being fed.

7; Innappara'tus or'. the character ,-described,

affeedf-wayfover: which metall strip orvsheetsare., to be fed;.magnet.means:opposed toons facezofr mitting freey mwement thereof,l lWith the gripped stripaor sheets, each said gripper member cornprising atool steel body Ywith a gripper. insert otyi'eldable materialfprojecting. slightly beyond ther stripV or' sheetopposing surface thereof or non-marring. contact. with said strip. or sheets.

81; Inzapparatus; of' the" characterv described', a-v feedf Wayover whichv metal. strip or sheets are tfbei fed; a slide guide,. a slide. reciprocable in said; guide. in a: pathr paralleling said feed Way, a plurality of permanent magnets extending longitudinally. on said; slide, means for reciprocating said slide, means for moving. the guide toward 'and'. from the feed Way in. timed relation to. the-slide. reciprocationto cause the magnets to engage a strip: err-sheet, then'move along the feedwaygwith thev strip -or-sheet held thereaga-inst, then mary'A from the stripfor sheet and then ,back tortl'ie; starting point preparatory to commencement'oanothen feed; cycle, and a pair of. endlessconveyors: having nights: para-Heling -thc feed-Wayi-opposite the slide and free to nieve idly inthe-direction of travell of` the strip or sheets anchhaving gripper-members extending thereacross in position for being; attractedby the magnets into .tight gripping. contact with. said' strip or sheets whenever the magnets vareiin contact with-the: stripi or sheets;

9;, In apparatus offthe; character described, a feedzWa-y ovenwhich metal. strip or sheetsv are to be fed,r ai slide guide, a slide-reciprocablein vsaid guide-in a path paralleling said feed way, a. plureality ofY permanent magnets extending longitudinally on saidV slide, means for reciprocating saiclrwslide; means' for moving. the guide toward and; fromzthe feed .Wayin timed relation-to the slide; reciprocaticn. tov cause` the magnets to engage: a strip or sheet: then move along the feedway with the strip or.' sheet held thereagainst, then away from-.the strip -or sheet and thenback to'i the. startingpoint preparatory to. commencement of. another feed. cycle, a pair of endless conveyors. flights para-Heling the feedway-opposite the slide and free to move; idly in the' direction. of travel, of; the strip or sheets andhaving gripper-members extending there.- across in position for being attracted bythe magnets into tight grippingV contact with said.

stripfcr'sheets whenever the magnets are in contact-with the stri'por sheets, each said gripper member comprising a tool steel body with a gripperL insert of yieldable material projecting slightly beyond4 the strip or sheet opposing surface thereof for non-marring contact with said strip or sheets.

10.v In apparatus of the character described,

a feedway over; which.I metal: strip @sheets-aref tofbeV fed; a slide. guide, a.; slide/recipiooahlef.

in said guide inapath;paralleling..saidicedway, a pluralityof-g permanent magnets extending g longitudinally on. said slide, meansv for-l reciproeating said slide, `means for; movingA thev guidev toward? and from. the.- feed- Way; ingtimed rela.- tionto the slide reciprocationto: cause the mag;- nets toengagc astrip or sheet, then movealongthe. feedway with .the strip or sheet heldi thereagainstthen inve-.vA from the strip.orsheet` and then; .back tov the; starting. point` preparatory: tov commencement of another feed cycle; apainof endlessyconveyors having iights parallelingT the feedway opposite the: slide and. freeA tcrmove; idlyinthe direction of travel; oftha-strip, or; sheetsand having. gripper members extending thereacross ini position for; being attractedby the magnets into tight gripping contactwith; said? strip or sheets whenever the magnetsareyin contactvvith the strip or sheets, and adjustable stop; means' forv limiting the reciprocatory". movementoi the slide, said slide reciprocating, means being adjustable for varying the lengthfof the reciprocatory' movement impartedl to-thegt slide.

1l. In apparatus of the character described, a feed Way over which metalv strip orV sheets-are to be fed, a slide guide, a slidevreciprocable in said guidev in a path paralleling said feed Way, a plurality Aof permanent magnetsY extending longitudinally on saidY slide, means for reciprocating said slide, meansk for moving the guide toward and from thefeed Way in timed relation to they slide reciprocation to cause: the magnets to engage a strip or sheet, then moveV along the feed- Way with the strip or sheet held thereagainst. then away from the strip or sheet and then back to the starting point preparatory to commencement of another feed cycle, a pair of endless conveyors havingiiights paralleling the feedvvayoppositel the slide and freeto move idly in thedireetion of travel of the strip or sheets and having gripper members extending thereacross in position for being attracted by the magnetsl into tight gripping contact with saidV strip or sheets whenever the magnets yare in contact with,V the strip orsheets, and stop means for limiting the reciprocatorymovement of the slide, said slidereciprocating means including a cushioned link connection permitting a limited overtravelof the. reciprocating means as each stopy is engaged.

l2. In apparatus of the character described', a feed way over which metal strip. is to be fed, a slide guide, a slide reciprocable in said guidefin a path parallelingr said feed Way, a plurality of permanent magnets extending*y longitudinalLv on said slide, means for reciprocating saidv slide, means for moving the guide toward and from the feed Way in timed relation to the slide. re` ciprocation to cause the magnets to engage a strip, then move along the feedvvay with the strip heldl thereaginst, then. `avvay from the stripand then back to, the starting point. preparatory to commencement ofl another feed cycle, a pair-of endless conveyors Vhaving flights. paralleling the feedway oppositev the slide and free to moveidly in the direction. oitravel. of the strip and having magnet attractable gripper members extending thereacross inposition for being attracted by themagnets into tight gripping contact with said strip4 whenever themagnets are in` contact with the strip, means floatably mounting the mag. nets. for `limited lateral movement on the slide and means floatablymounting saidconveyors for limited lateral movement relative to said slide,

thereby to permit a limited amount of weaving or lateral creeping of the strip as it is being fed.

13. In an apparatus of the character described. a straight line feed way over which metal strip or sheets are to be fed, a straight line guide paralleling said feedway, magnet means opposed to one face of the strip or sheets and reciprocable in said guide, cam actuated crank and link devices for moving the guide toward and from the feedway and the magnet means back and forth in the guide for causing the magnet means to rst contact with a strip or sheet on the feedway, then move along in said guide with the strip or sheet attracted thereto, then away from said strip or sheet to break said attraction, and then back in said guide to the starting point preparatory to commencement of another feed cycle, magnet means attractable gripper members closely opposing the opposite face of the strip or sheets in position for being attracted by the magnet means into tight gripping contact with said strip or sheets Whenever the magnet means is in contact with the strip or sheets, and idling carriers for said gripper members mounted for unidirectional movement permitting free movement thereof with the gripped strip or sheets.

JUSTIN SIMPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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